§1122. Definitions

As used in this chapter, unless the context otherwise indicates, the following terms
have the following meanings. [IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW).]

1.Certified candidate.
"Certified candidate" means a candidate running for Governor, State Senator or State
Representative who chooses to participate in the Maine Clean Election Act and who
is certified as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate under section 1125, subsection
5.

[
IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW)
.]

2.Commission.
"Commission" means the Commission on Governmental Ethics and Election Practices
established by Title 5, section 12004-G, subsection 33.

[
IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW)
.]

3.Contribution.
"Contribution" has the same meaning as in section 1012, subsection 2.

[
IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW)
.]

3-A.Election cycle.
"Election cycle" means the period beginning on the day after the general election
for any state, county or municipal office and ending on the day of the next general
election for that office.

4-A.Immediate family.
"Immediate family" has the same meaning as in section 1, subsection 20 and includes
a candidate's domestic partner and the immediate family of the candidate's domestic
partner.

[
2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §1 (NEW)
.]

5.Nonparticipating candidate.
"Nonparticipating candidate" means a candidate running for Governor, State Senator
or State Representative who does not choose to participate in the Maine Clean Election
Act and who is not seeking to be certified as a Maine Clean Election Act candidate
under section 1125, subsection 5.

[
IB 1995, c. 1, §17 (NEW)
.]

6.Participating candidate.
"Participating candidate" means a candidate who is running for Governor, State Senator
or State Representative who is seeking to be certified as a Maine Clean Election Act
candidate under section 1125, subsection 5.

A. Of $5 or more in the form of a check or a money order payable to the fund and signed by the contributor
in support of a candidate or made over the Internet in support of a candidate according
to the procedure established by the commission; [2009, c. 286, §4 (AMD).]

B. Made by a registered voter within the electoral division for the office a candidate
is seeking and whose voter registration has been verified according to procedures established by the commission; [2009, c. 190, Pt. B, §1 (AMD).]

D. That the contributor acknowledges was made with the contributor's personal funds and
in support of the candidate and was not given in exchange for anything of value and
that the candidate acknowledges was obtained with the candidate's knowledge and approval
and that nothing of value was given in exchange for the contribution, on forms provided
by the commission. [2007, c. 443, Pt. B, §2 (AMD).]

[
2009, c. 286, §4 (AMD)
.]

8.Qualifying period.
"Qualifying period" means the following.

A. For a gubernatorial participating candidate, the qualifying period begins October 15th immediately preceding the election year and ends at 5:00 p.m. on April 1st of the election year. [2009, c. 363, §1 (AMD).]

B. For State Senate or State House of Representatives participating candidates, the qualifying
period begins January 1st of the election year and ends at 5:00 p.m. on April 20th of that election year or the next business day following April 20th if the office of the commission is closed
on April 20th. [2009, c. 286, §5 (AMD).]

[
2009, c. 286, §5 (AMD);
2009, c. 363, §1 (AMD)
.]

9.Seed money contribution.
"Seed money contribution" means a contribution of no more than $100 per individual made to a participating candidate, including the candidate or the candidate's spouse
or domestic partner.